Old speeding ticket in Amsterdam
Mar 12, 2017, 10:16 am
#16
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
The distinction between criminal and civil is also largely irrelevant when it comes to a debt owed to the government as it relates to admissibility.
One of the key considerations for admission is whether you are law-abiding and whether you will become a financial burden to the government.
While there is, of course, a vast difference between a minor traffic offense and a serious crime, absconding as to the former shows a lack of respect for a country's laws (at least in the eyes of some nations). Not paying one's debts to the government suggests that one might not pay other debts to the government.
The border is an easy time to collect these unpaid amounts as the options are few.
One of the key considerations for admission is whether you are law-abiding and whether you will become a financial burden to the government.
While there is, of course, a vast difference between a minor traffic offense and a serious crime, absconding as to the former shows a lack of respect for a country's laws (at least in the eyes of some nations). Not paying one's debts to the government suggests that one might not pay other debts to the government.
The border is an easy time to collect these unpaid amounts as the options are few.
Mar 13, 2017, 7:22 am
#17
Join Date: May 2009
Location: SIN (with a bit of ZRH sprinkled in)
Posts: 9,449
However, in this case, where you're getting hold up for unpaid speeding tickets, the situation might turn 180 degrees. Just to clarify
Mar 16, 2017, 7:01 pm
#18
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Watchlisted by the prejudiced, en route to purgatory
Programs: Just Say No to Fleecing and Blacklisting
Posts: 102,095
The distinction between criminal and civil is also largely irrelevant when it comes to a debt owed to the government as it relates to admissibility.
One of the key considerations for admission is whether you are law-abiding and whether you will become a financial burden to the government.
While there is, of course, a vast difference between a minor traffic offense and a serious crime, absconding as to the former shows a lack of respect for a country's laws (at least in the eyes of some nations). Not paying one's debts to the government suggests that one might not pay other debts to the government.
The border is an easy time to collect these unpaid amounts as the options are few.
One of the key considerations for admission is whether you are law-abiding and whether you will become a financial burden to the government.
While there is, of course, a vast difference between a minor traffic offense and a serious crime, absconding as to the former shows a lack of respect for a country's laws (at least in the eyes of some nations). Not paying one's debts to the government suggests that one might not pay other debts to the government.
The border is an easy time to collect these unpaid amounts as the options are few.
And the distinction between criminal and civil does matter even in various civil-law/code jurisdictions. Even in relation to the nature of the financial debts. And it certainly does matter to an individual traveling who may or may not have money to settle on the spot.
The OP indicates having been stopped at AMS, but the OP apparently was going to be back at AMS again after that initial stop. It's sounds like the OP may have been admitted into the Schengen area even as an unpaid fine was noted at AMS.
Last edited by GUWonder; Mar 16, 2017 at 7:08 pm
May 23, 2019, 1:22 pm
#19
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 1,602
I was a bit concerned that the story would repeat itself at departure, but after seeing my Brazilian passport the immigration officer said "obrigado", and I replied "bom dia".